CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Glendale, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
Glendale
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Bellingham is moderately cheaper than Glendale — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $88,000 in Glendale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+50.9%
Bellingham
112.9
Glendale
170.4
🛒 Groceries+1.5%
Bellingham
105
Glendale
106.6
🚗 Transportation+5.0%
Bellingham
104.4
Glendale
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.9%
Bellingham
94.5
Glendale
99.1
Utilities+58.8%
Bellingham
99.9
Glendale
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bellingham to see what you'd need to earn in Glendale to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Glendale, CA
$88,000
$8,000 more needed in Glendale

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 1.0997. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Glendale, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Glendale has 50.9% higher housing costs compared to Bellingham.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Glendale, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
196,543
Top Industries
EntertainmentHealthcareRetailManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Glendale, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.